Indonesia volcanic eruption: Mount Merapi spews lava, superheated gas; at least 122 dead

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The death toll is climbing in the wake of another Indonesia volcanic eruption Thursday night and early Friday. Sixty mile-an-hour lava flows and plumes of super-heated gas rained down on unsuspecting villagers that live in the shadow of Central Java island's Mount Merapi. By Friday, authorities say bodies found in the white ash brought the toll to at least 122 dead.

"The heat surrounded us and there was white smoke everywhere," said 47-year-old Niti Raharjo, who tried to escape on a motorbike with his son before the lava overtook them. "I saw people running, screaming in the dark, women so scared they fell unconscious," he told the Associated Press from a local hospital.

The government estimates that 160,000 others fled their homes several eruptions over the last few days. "This is Merapi's worst eruption in the last 100 years," the Indonesia's top government geologist R. Sukhyar told the Jakarta Post.

Hardest hit was the village of Bronggang, nine miles from Mount Merapi's crater, where the AP reporter on the scene described "crumpled roofs, charred carcasses of cattle, and broken chairs — all layered in white soot." Rescue workers could be seen removing dozens of bodies Friday from the streets of the village. Another village, Argomulyo, was the scene of similar devestation 11 miles from the spewing crater.